Flushing device for water closets



Nov. 17, 1953 c. GRIFFON FLUSHING DEVICE FOR WATER cLosETs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1951 'amv d-or: f/dual'uJ 6/ 14 7 A'HOVIYELY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSHING DEVICE FOR WATER CLOSETS Claudius Grifion, Saint-Etienne, France Application June 1, 1951, Serial No. 229,313

Claims priority, application France June 3, 1950 3 Claims.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending specification Ser. No. 140,030, now Patent No. 2,589,691. It has for its object an improved flushing system adapted to provide a preliminary restricted fiow of water which ensures a novel, easy and smooth operation.

An object of my invention is a fiushing'system including two separate containers of which the upper one is smaller and is adapted to receive a comparatively small amount of water that is all the smaller when the pressure from the mains assumes a smaller value, while a higher pressure applied to the flushing is adapted to increase the .pressure of the entrapped air cushion and consequently the flushing pressure.

My invention has also for its object an extremely simple device wherein the two containers are connected through a tubular connection provided with a removable washer having a reduced gauged opening.

According to a still further object of my invention there are provided means for adjusting the pressure of water in the feed circuit.

Further and advantageous features of my invention will appear in the reading of the following description, reference being made to accompanying drawings given by way of a mere exemplification.

In said drawings:

. Fig. 1 is a general outer view on a reduced scale of the water closet flushing system according to my invention, in which dot and dash lines show the operative position of the lever controlling the flushing and the exhaust of the water.

Fig. 2 is a general view in longitudinal cross sectionon a reduced scale of a double flushing container, the dot and dash lines illustrating the movements of the pusher member and of the rubber ball valve produced through a rocking of the control lever.

Fig. 3 shows on a larger scale, the securing of the upper container on the lower container together with the fluid-tight and xhaust packings. The liquid is illustrated as being exhausted through the agency of a cushion of compressed air from the upper into the lower container.

Fig. 4 illustrates also on a larger scale the arrangement of the control lever with reference to the rubber ball valve at the lower end of the lower container, the dot and dash lines showing the displacement of the pusher member and of the ball valve, provided for exhausting the water contained in the lower container.

Fig. 5 shows on a reduced scale and in part sectional view a further modification.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on a larger scale through line abc-d-e of Fig. 5 to show certain details of the latter. Fig. 7 is a plan view through line f--g of Fig. 6.

enters the lower part. of said Fig. 7.

As apparent from the drawings, the double flushing container according to the invention includes a lower container having a predetermined capacity suiting the application required for the flushing system. Said lower container at is made of stamped and welded metal sheets so that it may be fiuidtightly sealed except for the openings mentioned hereinafter. Said container is illustrated as assuming a, cylindrical shape in the drawing, but obviously this shape may be modified so as to suit the application considered, the appearance required and the intended manner of securing the container, while retaining in all cases the same operative features.

The bottom al of the container a assumes a slope that is sufficient for furthering the exhaust of water and the return into its lowermost normal position of a ball valve b engaging, when the water has been exhausted, the seat formed by the opening cl in the sleeve 0 that is welded or screwed with the interposition of a packing into the bottom al of said container (1. A pipe d including a threaded connection forms an extension for the opening 0 in the sleeve cl, through which the exhausted water is removed.

A threaded connection e i eccentrically welded to the bottom al of the container at and is adapted to be connected with the water feeding pipe.

Theball valve b is made of rubber having a suitable structure so as to match the periphery of the seat el in a fluidtight manner and to form a joint therewith while retaining a suficient hardness to prevent too speedy a wear.

To the pipe at is welded a lateral connection d] (Fig. 4) inside. which is threadedly engaged a sleeve 1 opening inside the pipe d. A spindle g is revolubly mounted in said sleeve 1. A pusher member gl welded to the inner end of said spindle forms a radial projection inside the pipe it so as to register with the opening in the seat cl. A control lever h that is secured to the outer end of the spindle g through a pin engages the squareshaped extension or terminal portion of the spindle.

To the upper end of the container a is welded a connection all that is threaded outwardly and over which is screwed a connection 2! correspondingly provided on the lower. end of the upper container i (Figs. 2 and 3). a

The upper container 2 assumes a shape similar to that of the lower container a but its volume is a reduced one. Its size should be selected carefully in order to obtain a. predetermined pressure for the cushion of compressed air formed at the moment of the filling of the lower container a to an extent such thatthe water container 2' up to a predetermined level.

'. Said container 2 is pera out it bounding upwardly again or operating jerkwise, which would lead to shocks or ramming effects of a very objectionable nature. This smooth positioning of the ball valve is due to the fact that the flushing produces a suction inside the container through the clearance formed between said threads and the associated port l5, said suction being exerted on a certain amount of air that prevents any jerkwise and violent engagement of the ball valve on its seat.

As already disclosed hereinabove, when the container is being filled, the air is gradually com pressed up to a maximum pressure that balances the pressure of the water in the mains.

The size and volume of the containers are such 7 that when balance is reached, water enters the upper container 3 through the pipe e and the port 5 to reach a low level inside said upper container. It has already been disclosed that when the flushing is controlled, the preliminary flow is produced for almost without any substantial pressure being provided, said preliminary flow corresponding to the time required for exhausting the water from the upper container t, following which the pressure of the cushion of compressed air is exerted directly on the water of the lower container through the port 6 and the flushing is performed,

Accordingly, as the pressure of admission of air varies with the applications to be considered, the feed circuits and the like, the level of water in the upper container 3 may reach a level 0 above the port 6 that is much too high and consequently, the duration of the preliminary flow may be too long at the moment of the fiushing, unless the pressure of the water is balanced before the level reaches the port 6 It is, as a matter of fact, possible to screw or to unscrew the tube 3 to adjust the vertical location of the port 6 and consequently to retain a value for the level at c that is substantially constant and corresponds to a proper operation. This adjustment is provided for generally at the moment of the mounting of the flushing device, but it may be easily modified.

Obviously and as already disclosed hereinabove, my invention is by no means limited to the application and embodiments of the dinerent parts that have been disclosed more particularly and it covers all the modifications thereof falling withing the scope of accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A flushing system for water closets and the like applications, comprising two superposed containers, a substantially vertical pipe opening into the lower container and extending upwardly into the upper container, vertically adjustable with reference to the container and provided with a lateral port opening into the upper container at a level depending on the vertical adjustment of the pipe to provide a direct and permanent connection between the two containers, a connection for feeding water opening into the lower end of the lower container, an exhaust connection opening into the lower end of the lower container and an elastic ball valve adapted to close the end of the exhaust connection cooperating with the lower container for closing normally the latter and hand-operated means adapted to urge said ball valve away from its containerclosing. position into the mass of water filling the lower container.

2. A flushing system for water closets and the like applications, comprising two superposed containers, a common metal sheet member forming the upper cover of the lower container and the lower cover of the upper container and provided with a threaded'opening, a vertical threaded pipe adjustably fitted in said opening, the lower end of which is in permanent connection with the lower container and the upper end of which is 'closed by a slotted head, said pipe being provided with a lateral port permanently opening into the upper container at a level depending on the vertical adjustment of the pipe, an opening on the upper end'of the upper container and through which the slotted head may be reached for control thereof, a closure on said opening, a connection for feeding water opening into the lower end of the lower container, an exhaust connection opening into the lower end of the lower container and an elastic ball valve adapted to close the end of the exhaust connection cooperating with the lower container for closing normally the latter and hand-operated means adapted to urge said ball Valve away from its container-closing position into the mass of water filling the lower container.

3. A flushing system for water closets and the like applications, comprising two superposed containers of which the upper container is smaller, a connection of small cross-sectional area connecting directly and permanently the upper end of the lower container with the lower end of the upper container, 9, connection for feeding water opening into the lower end of the lower container, an exhaust connection opening into the lower end of the lower container and an elastic ball valve adapted to close the end of the exhaust connection cooperating with the lower container for closing normally the latter, a tapped boss incorporated to the exhaust connection to form a lateral opening through the latter, a threaded support engaging with some clearance the tapping in said boss and provided with an elongated axial chamber closed at its outer end and slightly sloping downwardly towards the axis of the exhaust connection, a cylindrical member revolubly carried inside said chamber and extending over at least part of its length up to a point at a short distance from its outer closed end, a bent lever controlling the angular position of said cylindrical member and passing through the outer closed end of the support, a lateral projection rigid with the inner end of the cylindrical member inside the exhaust connection, a small bore connecting the clearance between the boss and support with the outer atmosphere, said lateral projection being adapted to urge the ball upwardly into the mass of water inside the lower container to open the communication between the exhaust connection and the lower container for a predetermined angular position of the spindle.

CLAUDIUS GRIFFON.

References Cited in the file of this patent 849,947 France Aug. 28, 1939 

